There are perhaps hundreds of tapas bars in Barcelona serving innovative small plates. But the taste-testers there at Epicurious.com boast about one in particular, It’s called El Quim de la Boqueria right in the middle of the rambling Boqueria marketplace, which specializes in fricassee of artichokes and white asparagus, lamb strips in dark beer, tiny clams steamed in spring wine, teeny squid sauteed with garlic and olive oil over fried eggs, and many more.

In fact, its 18 seats are often host to admiring chefs from other tapas bars in the Catalon area. And La Boqueria market is so much of a culinary drawing card that a cooking school is now on premises.

Comments (3)

Recently in BCN, became obsessed with the bravas. Went on a hunt for the best ones & many are excellent. My local Gourmet shop owner & chef (Betlem, Girona, 70) was complaining that travelers are not getting the best local food so of course I asked him for the best bravas. Without hesitation he said the very best are at La Taverna del Clinic, Rossello, 155 and OHMYGOD, were they!!!! They’re heads & shoulders (and they’re quite small) above the others – very unusually done but the taste is the ultimate bravas experience. Give them a try, watch your jaws drop. XXX

We recently spent a week in Barcelona and stayed only a few blocks from El Quim. After my husband ventured off early one morning while I slept and came back boasting of this little place in the middle of the marketplace (my husband was a chef for many years), we went back the next morning. All I can say is YUMMY! We became regulars at El Quim for the week we were there. I think we had breakfast there at least 5 times that week. They have some off parings that I would never consider putting together, but turned out to be delicious. Their coffee was the best we had our whole trip (just simple cafe con leche). You can also get fresh squeezed juices from just about any fruit at the nearby fruit vendors. So if you get the chance, definitely make it to El Quim!